We are excited and proud to announce the 2024 winner of the Bill Verdier Irish Music Scholarship award! Congratulations to Stella Bishop, a talented and accomplished young concertina player from St. Louis, Missouri. The award defrayed Stella’s expenses in attending the Meitheal Summer School for Trad Musicians in Limerick, Ireland. Students at the school attend workshops for specific instrument, mixed-instrument, concert bands and group sessions, as well as composition and arrangement workshops.
Stella first discovered her love for Irish traditional music at age 8, when she was old enough to choose the instrument she wanted to study and chose the concertina. She has studied at St. Louis Irish Arts, led classes for younger concertina students, attended local sessions, Tionols, and Fleadhs in St. Louis and beyond; in 2023 she competed in the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Mullingar, Ireland. “As I become a more mature musician, I am ready to take my music to the next level … to increase my repertoire list and knowledge of the concertina, to pass on the knowledge I learn to my students and other members of my community. I hope to continue sharing Irish culture in America and this event will help me do so.”
From Bill Wolfe, Board President of the Scholarship: “Stella is a truly remarkable student and musician and will inspire others with her energy and commitment to Irish music and culture. We are very proud to offer her this scholarship, honoring Bill Verdier, to support her goals.”
Please visit our Applications page to learn about the scholarship opportunity for the current year. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the many individuals who loved Bill, shared his passion for Irish traditional music, and donated to make the scholarship possible this year and into the future.
Find out about other Scholarship winners here.